When her fingers turn, he feels her ache. He watches Elle and he can see she's struggling internally. Her eyes are closed, her brows furrowed, and he aims to take her out of it.

"Hey," he says, picking up her chin. "I'm not going anywhere." He means it in every way. There's no getting rid of him.

He pulls her in for another kiss, and this one carries heat with it. Being in a relationship with the CO is not always easy. He can't see her as much as he'd like, and even when he does, they're usually on the clock. She takes her job very seriously, and so does he. He wouldn't change their dynamic for anything. But that doesn't mean he won't savour these moments when they're here.

Her mouth is warm and she is suddenly edible. He pulls away just enough to get a few words in. "C'mon," he whispers. "Let's get you out of that uniform."

He smiles with a genuine innocence. "It's cuddle time."